09/30/2011

THE THREE P'S YOU CAN'T DO WITHOUT

Whether you are interested in self-publlishing/marketing or are want to go the route of making a licensing deal , by retaining a Literay Agent, with a regular book publisher, the reality is a lot of work from your end has to occur. Too often I receive phone calls, stuff by regular or email, when the person at the other end clearly has not done one P let along all three. I guess they think by magic I will be able to know how they can or need to be helped or even worse they expect all I do is contact an editor and say "Hi Susan or Charlie have I got a great one for you". Not so.

So...what are the "Three P's" for a NON-FICTION book project

PREPARATION -

Most if not all non-fiction book projects require the author to research enough data to support whatever it is they are writing about. Most times that data is statistical in nature. Saying " a lot of people will be interested in buying my book" won't go over well with the editor at the book publishing company. Or "my colleagues showed great interest when I told them about my book idea"> "Or this idea when used will bring wide-spread benefit to thousands of people". You get it ? You need numbers in the form of statistics such as "5,000,000 people are currently engaged in whatever according to the most recent survey found in whatever for the year whatever and according to whatever it is growing at the rate of xx%."

Sometimes it does not have to be statistics. Sometimes it can be statements made by a well-known person you read about in a publication that can support your book idea. "So and So who is head of whatever has been quoted in the whatever magazine that the use of whatever will contribute to the success of opportunity of whomever".

PLATFORM

Very vital. Some refer to platform as credentials. Others could call it profile. I choose platform because editors use it and it means showing those things the author has achieved that could attract the readers to your book subject. Depending on the subject of the book those achievements could come from your professional/business background. Or it could come from a life experience that created a platform for you. I often get proposals from authors, especially first-time, where there is no platorm at all. The author has none but feels the subject is something they they think they are qualfied to write about. They are entitled to feel that way of course ...but book publishers don't risk their financial and other resources on the basis of someone not having a very identifiable platform that does qualify them. Often for this sort of situation it is better to seriousl look at what is involved to self-publish and market your book idea.

PROPOSAL

The following key elements - especially for first time authors in non-fiction are needed in the building of a Proposal package. They are-

a. Title and descriptive sub-title

b. Desciption of the Book..sometimes called the Synopsis

c. Author Platform ..sometimes called Background including portions of your resume such as education.

d. Chapter Outline ...sometimes called Table of Contents

e. Target Market ...there is where statisics about the market becomes important.

f. Uniqueness

g. Competitive Analysis - How another already published book stands up when compared to what you intend doing.

h. Projected word count and delivery date

i. An Introduction and one sample chapter or two sample chapters.

All of the above should be professionally edited. If you don't want to spend the money or don't have it then see if you can get a friend with an education in English at the university level wih a minimum BA ..but PhD is better. At least have the sample chapter/Introduction professionally edited.

Often I am retained to help with all of the above..but try it yourself. It is good to have done even if you decide to self-publish.